Apparatus for harming or killing fouling flora or fauna and an item carrying the same

Abstract

Apparatus for harming or killing fouling flora or fauna, for example on boat hulls, comprises two conductors and an AC power source. The first conductor is a conductive coating while the second conductor is a spaced sheet in one embodiment and a grid on a dielectric insulating coating in another embodiment.

1. Apparatus for harming or killing fouling flora or fauna comprising:
 a solid dielectric member; 
 a first conductor located on a first side of said solid dielectric member and in contact therewith, said first conductor having a surface to be mounted on a hull of a ship; 
 a second conductor located on a second side of said solid dielectric member and in contact therewith; and 
 an AC power source connected to said first and said second conductors. 
 
   
   
     2. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and said second conductors has a coating that is no more than semi-insulating. 
   
   
     3. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and said second conductors is bare. 
   
   
     4. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and said second conductors has apertures therein. 
   
   
     5. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said one conductor comprises a grid defining said apertures. 
   
   
     6. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said apertures are sized 3 to 6 mm across. 
   
   
     7. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said apertures are sized 50 to 100 mm across. 
   
   
     8. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a material, which is less conductive than said first and said second conductors, is provided in said apertures. 
   
   
     9. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second conductors are spaced 3 to 6 mm apart. 
   
   
     10. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second conductors are spaced 50 to 100 mm apart. 
   
   
     11. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said AC power source applies a potential across said first and said second conductors of at least 3 kV. 
   
   
     12. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said AC power source operates at a frequency of at least 300 Hz. 
   
   
     13. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said AC power source generates a substantially square wave signal. 
   
   
     14. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said AC power source has a transition stage duration of less than 500 micro seconds. 
   
   
     15. Apparatus for harming or killing fouling flora or fauna comprising:
 a first conductor; 
 a second conductor; and 
 an AC power source connected to said first and said second conductors; 
 wherein one of said first and said second conductors is bare or has no more than a semi-insulating coating, and the other of said first and said second conductors has on a side thereof to be directed toward water during use an insulating coating to insulate said other electrode from the water during use. 
 
   
   
     16. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said one conductor is bare. 
   
   
     17. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a dielectric member provided between said first and said second conductors in contact therewith. 
   
   
     18. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said first and said second conductors has apertures therein. 
   
   
     19. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said one conductor comprises a grid defining said apertures. 
   
   
     20. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said apertures are sized 3 to 6 mm across. 
   
   
     21. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said apertures are sized 50 to 100 mm across. 
   
   
     22. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein a material, which is less conductive than said first and said second conductors, is provided in said apertures. 
   
   
     23. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said first and said second conductors are spaced 3 to 6 mm apart. 
   
   
     24. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said first and said second conductors are spaced 50 to 100 mm apart. 
   
   
     25. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said AC power source applies a potential across said first and said second conductors of at least 3 kV. 
   
   
     26. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said AC power source operates at a frequency of at least 300 Hz. 
   
   
     27. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said AC power source generates a substantially square wave signal. 
   
   
     28. Apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said AC power source has transition stage duration of less than 500 micro seconds. 
   
   
     29. An item to be placed in water comprising:
 a portion to be placed under water having a non-conducting surface or a non-conductive surface coating; 
 first and second conductors located on said portion to be placed under water; 
 a solid dielectric member located between and in contact with said first and said second conductors; and 
 an AC power source connected to said first and said second conductors. 
 
   
   
     30. An item as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said item is a boat and said portion to be placed under water is a hull of said boat. 
   
   
     31. An item as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein at least one of said first and said second conductors has a coating that is no more than semi-insulating. 
   
   
     32. An item as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein at least one of said first and said second conductors is bare. 
   
   
     33. An item as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein at least one of said first and said second conductors has apertures therein. 
   
   
     34. An item as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said one conductor comprises a grid defining said apertures. 
   
   
     35. An item as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein said apertures are sized 3 to 6 mm across. 
   
   
     36. An item as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein said apertures are sized 50 to 100 mm across. 
   
   
     37. An item as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein a material, which is less conductive than said first and said second conductors, is provided in said apertures. 
   
   
     38. An item as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said first and said second conductors are spaced 3 to 6 mm apart. 
   
   
     39. An item as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said first and said second conductors are spaced 50 to 100 mm apart. 
   
   
     40. An item as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said AC power source applies a potential across said first and said second conductors of at least 3 kV. 
   
   
     41. An item as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said AC power source operates at a frequency of at least 300 Hz. 
   
   
     42. An item as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said AC power source generates a substantially square wave signal. 
   
   
     43. An item as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said AC power source has transition stage duration of less than 500 micro seconds. 
   
   
     44. An item to be placed in water comprising:
 a portion to be placed under water having a non-conducting surface or a non-conductive surface coating; 
 first and second conductors located on said portion to be placed under water; and 
 an AC power source connected to said first and said second conductors; 
 wherein one of said first and said second conductors is bare or has no more than a semi-insulating coating, and the other of said first and said second conductors has on a side thereof to be directed toward the water during use an insulating coating to insulate said other electrode from the water during use. 
 
   
   
     45. An item as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said item is a boat and said portion to be placed under water is a hull of said boat. 
   
   
     46. An item as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein at least one of said first and said second conductors is bare. 
   
   
     47. An item as claimed in  claim 44 , further comprising a dielectric member provided between said first and said second conductors in contact therewith. 
   
   
     48. An item as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein at least one of said first and said second conductors has apertures therein. 
   
   
     49. An item as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein said one conductor comprises a grid defining said apertures. 
   
   
     50. An item as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein said apertures are sized 3 to 6 mm across. 
   
   
     51. An item as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein said apertures are sized 50 to 100 mm across. 
   
   
     52. An item as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein a material, which is less conductive than said first and said second conductors, is provided in said apertures. 
   
   
     53. An item as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said first and said second conductors are spaced 3 to 6 mm apart. 
   
   
     54. An item as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said first and said second conductors are spaced 50 to 100 mm apart. 
   
   
     55. An item as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said AC power source applies a potential across said first and said second conductors of at least 3 kV. 
   
   
     56. An item as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said AC power source operates at a frequency of at least 300 Hz. 
   
   
     57. An item as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said AC power source generates a substantially square wave signal. 
   
   
     58. An item as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein said AC power source has transition stage duration of less than 500 micro seconds. 
   
   
     59. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of said first and second conductors is insulated from surrounding water during use. 
   
   
     60. An item as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein one of said first and second conductors is insulated from surrounding water during use.